Establishing and ruling the new Federal Republic Flashcards
FRG
Federal republic of Germany- west Germany
GDR
German Democratic Republic- east Germany
When did west Germany join nato
1849- 4 years after the war
When did the US half of Germany create democracy?
In January 1946 they could vote in local elections
In march 1946 they could vote in town and country elections
When was the Yalta conference
February 1945
In which three areas was there agreement at Yalta
Eastern Europe
- deceleration of liberated Europe
-Set up polish government of national unity
International organisations
- setting up UN
- international war tribunal
Germany
- temporarily divided into 4 zones
-Berlin also divided in 4
What was the disagreement over reparations at Yalta
Stalin wanted Germany to pay USSR reparations of coal but they were ignored
How many Nazis were put on trial at Nuremberg
21 Nazis
Who led the SPD
Karl Schumacher
Who led the CDU
Konrad Adenauer
What was the CDU made up of
The old centre (z) party
German nationalists and populists
What was the news German constitution of the FRG known as
The fundamental law, or basic law
In the basic law who is the president elected by and what is their role
They are elected by state representatives, not popular vote.
Their influenced was severely limited compared to Weimar
They had no control over type military as it was disbanded at the end of the war. (Given back due to Korean War in 1950)
What is the Bundestag in the new basic law
- Germany became a fully federal state with govt setting laws for country and lander
- parties had to gain at least 5% of the vote to get a seat in the Bundestag, to avoid smaller extremist parties having influence
- set federal taxes
Describe the government, chancellor and other ministers of the FRG
- leader of largest party or coalition was appointed chancellor
- Could be removed by a vote of no confidence
- power of article 48 removed, no ability to change Bundestag or constitution
What was the “constructive vote of no confidence”
It was a vote of no confidence that could only occur if a chancellor was elevated by the Bundestag. It stopped parties using a vote of no confidence to cripple the functionality of the Bundestag.
What electoral method was used in Germany, basic law
Proportional representation
Every 4 years
Men and women over 18 could vote
They voted twice for an electoral district and a party list
Describe the civil service and judiciary off the fundamental law
- similar to Weimar as they were politically independent
- judiciary acted as a check and balance
- constitutional court established to outlaw parties that they thought were undemocratic in their ideology.
Describe the welfare state of the basic law
New welfare state set up similar to Weimar
What made up the Bundesrat of the basic law
- made of representatives of the lander
- not elected by representatives were proportional to the population of each state.
What did the bundersrat to under the basic law?
- Prussia erased as a state lander given more power than ever
- if federal taxes effected the lander the bundesrat had to agree to them
- taxes were split between the lander and government
- lander had control over education and administration in their state
What was Berlin split into
It was split into 4 pieces in 1949- France, britain, England, and the US
